SHE has been hailed as reggae royalty and crowned the Queen of Ska, but Jamaican star Susan Cadogan laughs off such accolades, describing herself as just a singer.

“They call me ‘the queen’ of reggae, ska and rocksteady, but I’m none of those things,” chuckles the artist who is celebrating 50 years in the music industry.

“ I am the queen of myself!

“I can’t put my finger on a genre. My music is somewhere between ska, rocksteady and lovers rock and I even DJ. The music tells its own story, though, and it is nice that people can still love a song that I recorded 49 years ago.”

She attributes her longevity in the industry to her musical honesty.

“I have never compromised or got on any bandwagon.” she says.

“I just sing about life. It is quite old fashioned and with a lot of heart; I follow my feelings.”

Susan is sparky and fighting fit, though she confesses that, at the age of 73, she is not as energetic as she once was.

“I am hanging in there, despite the aches and pains that come with age and cold weather,” she says cheerfully.

“It’s a hectic life but I still enjoy singing and playing with a live band.”

Susan Cadogan has been charming us with her sublime voice for 50 yearsThe voice behind a string of hits going back to the 70s, Susan’s big break actually came from a stroke of luck.

While working as a librarian at the University of the West Indies, the singer – then known by her birth name of Alison – was asked to record her first single Love My Life for Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation DJ Jerry Lewis. Listening in was Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – the pioneering superstar reggae musician and producer dubbed ‘The Upsetter’.

He was so impressed he recorded an album with Susan – launching her international career.

Among the tunes was a version of Millie Jackson soul song, Hurt So Good. While barely making waves in Jamaica, the record became a massive hit in Britain – hitting the top of the reggae chart and reaching No. 4 in the UK singles chart.

Success established her as a familiar face on television, with multiple appearances on chart show Top of the Pops.

The hit was one of the biggest of 1975. It was followed by another chart smash, Love Me Baby, produced by Pete Waterman of Stock Aitken Waterman ‘hit factory’ fame.

Susan has been delighting fans ever since. And while spending her life between homes in Jamaica and Florida, she has great affection for the UK, which took her to its heart and made her a star.

She is back in Britain again on a tour which tonight, November 22, sees her return to Oxford, as a guest of the city’s ska and reggae master Aidan Larkin – aka Count Skylarkin.

And she can’t wait to return, having previously packed out the O2 Academy in Cowley Road in 2013 and down the road at the Bullingdon for a Reggae Christmas gig in 2017.

“It will be good to come back to Oxford,” she says.

“The first time was for a show with [the now late] DJ Derek. That was the last time I saw him. Then I was here for a Christmas show which was special.

“I have had two really nice shows in Oxford so I am hoping this will be the nicest of all.”

She goes on: “I feel very much at home in the UK and like the lifestyle here. It feels very safe. I’d never take a bus in Jamaica but I would here.

“I have had an affinity with this country since 1975 and I have been coming back ever since. It’s where I have my biggest following and where I am most loved – and it feels like home.”

Tonight’s show, at Cowley Workers Social Club, is special for another reason – it might be the last chance to see her here.

“I still like playing on stage but don’t want to do this forever. I can take a lot of pills to perform but they are not good for me, so I have to put my health first.”

So will this be her last gig here?

“Well, I definitely won’t be back next year ... and I don’t know what the future holds,” she says wistfully.

Touring, she admits, is exhausting.

“If I could magically pop myself on stage for each show, it would be good. But there is a lot of other work involved when touring, like the travelling and all that stress and anxiety. The only nice thing is that one hour on stage.”

She chuckles about Tom Jones still performing at 84. But while respecting the Valleys crooner’s energy, she has no desire to carry on singing live for another decade.

“I don’t want people looking at my age and going ‘Oh Lord, what the deuce is she doing out there?’ as if they are not going to get old themselves!

“I won’t take anyone telling me to shut up and sit down. If I didn’t have the joy and confidence then I wouldn’t do it. I am quite happy to sit and not shake as much – but I don’t see myself carrying on too long.

“I’ll still do some recording but have turned down everything else in the UK for now – so you’d better come to this show if you want to see me!”

An Evening With Susan Cadogan at Cowley Workers Social Club, is tonight, Friday, November 22. Support comes from Count Skylarkin, The Friendly Fire Band and Myki Tuf. Tickets from wegottickets.com